12th Mar, 2025 10:00
The Fine Collectors Sale
John Bell, The Principles of Surgery, 1801
John Bell, Surgeon, The Principles of Surgery in Two Volumes: Volume First - Of the Ordinary Duties of the Surgeon; Volume Second - A System of Surgical Operations, 1801, hand coloured plates, velum binding with manuscript title to spine J Bell Surgery, some pages loose, 674pages, light spotting and browning, Large Quarto 31cm x 25cm
John Bell (1763-1820) was a pioneering Scottish surgeon and anatomist, recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of surgery. Bell was born in Edinburgh and trained in the medical sciences during an era when surgery was emerging as a distinct scientific discipline. He was an outspoken advocate for the advancement of surgical techniques, emphasizing precision, anatomical knowledge, and the importance of reducing patient suffering.
His vivid and detailed writings revolutionized surgical education, offering an anatomically accurate and practical approach to surgical practice. Bell’s illustrations, many of which he created himself, brought his works to life, providing unprecedented clarity for medical students and practitioners. His critical stance on the inadequacies of contemporary surgery often drew controversy, but his legacy as a reformer and educator is undisputed. Bell’s works continue to be referenced for their historical importance and their role in transforming surgical practices.
Book Description: Published in 1801, The Principles of Surgery is a seminal two-volume work that delineates the state of surgical science at the dawn of the 19th century. Volume First focuses on the ordinary duties of the surgeon, addressing critical aspects of wound care, ulcers, fistulas, aneurysms, fractures, and military and hospital duties. Volume Second offers a comprehensive system of surgical operations, detailing procedures such as lithotomy, trepanning, hernia repairs, hydrocele treatment, amputations, and more.
This large quarto edition, printed in Edinburgh, features an engraved frontispiece and is bound in modern half leather with marbled boards. Bell’s precise descriptions and clear emphasis on anatomical foundations make this work both a practical manual and a scholarly treatise. It also contains valuable insights into the duties of military surgeons, reflecting the challenges of surgical practice in a time of frequent warfare. A highly influential text in the history of surgery, it is essential for collectors of medical history and 19th-century scientific works.
Sold for £238
Result including buyers premium
John Bell, Surgeon, The Principles of Surgery in Two Volumes: Volume First - Of the Ordinary Duties of the Surgeon; Volume Second - A System of Surgical Operations, 1801, hand coloured plates, velum binding with manuscript title to spine J Bell Surgery, some pages loose, 674pages, light spotting and browning, Large Quarto 31cm x 25cm
John Bell (1763-1820) was a pioneering Scottish surgeon and anatomist, recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of surgery. Bell was born in Edinburgh and trained in the medical sciences during an era when surgery was emerging as a distinct scientific discipline. He was an outspoken advocate for the advancement of surgical techniques, emphasizing precision, anatomical knowledge, and the importance of reducing patient suffering.
His vivid and detailed writings revolutionized surgical education, offering an anatomically accurate and practical approach to surgical practice. Bell’s illustrations, many of which he created himself, brought his works to life, providing unprecedented clarity for medical students and practitioners. His critical stance on the inadequacies of contemporary surgery often drew controversy, but his legacy as a reformer and educator is undisputed. Bell’s works continue to be referenced for their historical importance and their role in transforming surgical practices.
Book Description: Published in 1801, The Principles of Surgery is a seminal two-volume work that delineates the state of surgical science at the dawn of the 19th century. Volume First focuses on the ordinary duties of the surgeon, addressing critical aspects of wound care, ulcers, fistulas, aneurysms, fractures, and military and hospital duties. Volume Second offers a comprehensive system of surgical operations, detailing procedures such as lithotomy, trepanning, hernia repairs, hydrocele treatment, amputations, and more.
This large quarto edition, printed in Edinburgh, features an engraved frontispiece and is bound in modern half leather with marbled boards. Bell’s precise descriptions and clear emphasis on anatomical foundations make this work both a practical manual and a scholarly treatise. It also contains valuable insights into the duties of military surgeons, reflecting the challenges of surgical practice in a time of frequent warfare. A highly influential text in the history of surgery, it is essential for collectors of medical history and 19th-century scientific works.
Auction: The Fine Collectors Sale, 12th Mar, 2025
